Ghana's flood crisis is worsening due to a growing trend of fully paving residential compounds in urban areas. This practice prevents rainwater from soaking into the ground and instead forces it into already overloaded drainage systems. Recent torrential rains caused widespread flooding in the Greater Accra and Central Regions, submerging homes and roads, and reportedly leading to 13 deaths in Accra alone.
Professor Divine Kwaku Ahadzie, a construction and human settlements development expert from KNUST, explained this issue. He noted that many urban residents have paved their entire compounds with concrete or tiles. This eliminates all permeable surfaces, meaning water cannot seep into the soil naturally. The excess runoff quickly overwhelms urban drainage infrastructure, which was not designed for such rapid water flows.
This trend contributes significantly to Ghana's persistent flooding challenges linked to rapid urbanization and inadequate infrastructure. Urban centers, particularly Accra, regularly experience severe flooding during rainy seasons, disrupting economic activity and endangering lives. The Greater Accra Resilience and Integrated Development (GARID) Project, for instance, has invested GHS 800 million since 2019 to improve drainage and flood management. Despite these efforts, fundamental urban planning issues like compound paving continue to undermine progress.
Professor Ahadzie, speaking on Nhyira FM, urged homeowners and developers to maintain unpaved or grassed sections within their compounds. He believes this would allow natural water infiltration and reduce surface runoff. He advocates for Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies to create an incentive fund for landlords. This fund would support property owners who remove concrete or tile paving, encouraging more flood-resilient practices across urban areas.
The implications of unchecked compound paving are severe, potentially increasing economic losses from flood damage and straining emergency services. Decision-makers must consider Professor Ahadzie's proposal for financial or tax incentives. This approach could prove more effective than enforcement alone, especially in densely built urban areas where most compounds are already fully paved. Addressing this issue, alongside stopping construction on wetlands and improving sanitation, is crucial for mitigating future flood impacts.
Engineer Dr. Miriam Eduful, President of the Ghana Institute of Safety and Environmental Professionals (GhISEP), also highlighted public non-compliance with flood safety measures. She stated that despite extensive public awareness campaigns, many residents continue to disregard official advisories. This includes ignoring heavy rain alerts from the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet).
Engineer Eduful emphasized that early warnings only prevent harm if people act on them. Continuing to ignore these alerts puts lives and property at unnecessary risk during seasonal floods. Local assemblies, traditional authorities, and community leaders must intensify local enforcement and public education efforts. This critical action is needed ahead of the peak rainy season to protect communities effectively.